Milk-can



(No ModeL) G. W. EVANS.

MILK CAN.

. No. 486,281. Patented Nov. 15, 1892.

IW'VEZVZ'OZ? WH H i WITNESSES,

UNITED ST TES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE W. EVANS, OF BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

MILK-CAN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 486,281, dated November 15,1892.

Application filed July 2, 1892. Serial No. 438,815. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE W. EVANS, a citizen of the United States, and aresident of the city of Baltimore, in the State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Milk-(Jane; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to 'the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in milk and other cans, the object being to pro yide a simple, economical, and efficient looking device for the tops thereof to avoid surreptitious abstraction of the contents.

In the transportation of cans containing 1n1lk it frequently happens that a portion of the contents is purloined during transit by dishonest persons through whose hands the cans pass, so that when they reach their destination there is a considerable shortage. Sometimes this shortage is madeup by the parties who purloin the contents of the cans by the substitution of an equal quantity of water or milk of an inferior grade. In either case, however, much annoyance is sustained by this unauthorized abstraction, frequently causing great loss to the shipper and con signee. Ordinary locks afford little protection against these dishonest practices, especially when the cans pass through several hands before reaching destination.

My invention is designed to provide an im-. proved construction of lock and seal, so that as the cans are received by the difierent parties through whose hands they pass it can be readily ascertained at a glance whether the same have been tampered with and the theft positively placed upon the guilty parties.

The invention consists in the novel construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is an elevation of the upper portion of a milkcan constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig. 2 is a section of the same. Fig. 3 is a view of the upper portion of the can with the top or cover removed. Fig. 4.- is a view of the top or cover detached.

In the said drawings the reference-numeral 1 designates the body, 1 the breast, and 2 the neck, which may be of any ordinary or suitable construction. Secured to the neck upon the outside thereof are one or more downwardly-extending spring-arms 3, being secured to the neck near the upper end thereof. Secured to the neck so as to inclose each of these spring-arms is a housing 4:, open at its upper end and provided with an opening 5 in its face for the insertion of a key, as will be hereinafter set forth.

The numeral 6 denotes the top or cover, consisting of an annular ring 7, top 8, and outwardly-extending annular flange 9, adapt ed to seat upon the upper edge of the neck 2. This cover is provided with one or more downwardly-depending spring-arms l0, having their lower ends provided with inwardly and outwardlyextending lugs 12 and 12*. These arms are formed with openings 13, which register with the openings 5 in the housing when the cover is inserted within the neck. Each of these arms is also provided or formed with an outwardly-extending flange 14. The top of this cover is pro vided with a hand-hold 15 by which it may be withdrawn.

The numeral 16 denotes a seal consisting of a slip of paper with any designating characters thereon which may be desired.

The operation is as follows: When the cans are filled, the cover is inserted in the neck and a seal dropped in between the wall of the housing and the spring'arm 10. The cover is then forced home and the lug 12 of said arm will engage with the lower end of arm 3, secured to the neck of the can. It will now be impossible to remove the cover until the arm 3 is disengaged from said lug 12'of the arm 10, which can only be done by forcing arm 3 inward by means of a key which is inserted in the opening 5 in the housing. This, however, will break the seal, whereby any tampering therewith will be readily detected by the next person who receives the can. The lower end of the seal when in place will rest upon the lug 12, so that when the cover with the arm 10 is removed the seal will also be removed or Withdrawn from the housing.

Having thus described my invention, what 5 I claim is- The combination, with a can having a downwardly-depending spring-arm secured thereto near the upper end and having an outwardlyextending flange and the housing having an 10 open upper end and an opening it its Wall for the passage of a key, of the cover having a downwardly-extendin g spring-arm having an opening registering with the opening in said arm and its lower end provided with inwardly and outwardly extending lugs, substantially t5 GEORGE W. EVANS. Witnesses:

FRANK Y. MACDONALD, WM. H. JONES. 

